How damp towels, sponge gunge and bacteria at home could be making you sick

MOST of us like to believe our homes are pretty clean. But it turns out they could be the cause of all sorts of health problems, from eczema and asthma to even cancer.

“Toxic home syndrome is thought to affect more than 15million homes in the UK,” says professor Peter Howarth, a specialist in allergy and respiratory medicine at Southampton University.

“It mainly occurs when people are exposed to a potent mix of chemicals, bacteria or other airborne pollutants within the home due to poor ventilation.”

And even the cleanest homes can harbour germs.

“Potentially harmful microbes in the home include staphylococcus aureus – a group of bacteria that includes MRSA and E. coli – which can cause severe intestinal infections and norovirus,” says Sally Bloomfield, a microbiologist at the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene.

Here’s how to make your home healthy again.

Something in the air

“The air in our homes can contain over 900 chemicals,” says Peter. “Mould in the bathroom releases spores, which can exacerbate respiratory conditions.

Wood-burning stoves can give off particles that may damage lungs, and scented candles produce limolene, which raises formaldehyde levels.

Cooking on a gas stove secretes nitrogen dioxide, acrolein and formaldehyde, which have been linked to cancer.” But don’t reach for a gas mask just yet.

“Open your window for 10 minutes every day or buy an air purifier,” says Peter. A cheaper option is plants such as aloe vera, which absorb toxins.

Sponge gunge

We use sponges to clean, but one study found that coliform – bacteria containing salmonella and E. coli – was in 75 per cent of those tested.

“Sponges are the ideal breeding grounds for microbes because we supply them with a warm, moist environment,” explains Sally.

“I regularly swab kitchen sponges and find that they are carrying salmonella, staphlococcus, E. coli and listeria – all of which can cause mild to severe gut and skin infections.

The biggest worry is campylobacter, which comes from poultry and can cause paralysis.”

Insta “Queen of Clean” Lynsey Crombie advises putting them in the washing machine at 60°C after every use and letting them dry fully.

Loo what?

Cleaning the toilet is everyone’s least favourite job, but it turns out your loo brush could also be making you sick.

“Bathroom surfaces such as toilet seats, handles, sinks and taps are covered in germs such as E. coli – which can lead to UTIs and intestinal illnesses – C. diff, which can cause diarrhoea,and acinetobacter, which can trigger a contagious respiratory infection,” says Sally.

“Toilet brushes often sit in a fetid soup of bacteria which is very unhygienic and potentially dangerous.”

Lynsey uses a silicone toilet brush without bristles, and Instagram cleaning star Mrs Hinch advises adding a capful of disinfectant to the toilet brush holder.

Towel trouble

Warm, fluffy, damp… it’s no wonder germs love towels. In fact, a study by the University of Arizona found the bacteria coliform in 90 per cent of the towels it tested, and 14 per cent had traces of E. coli.

“Towels should never be used communally, as bacteria can be transferred from one person to another,” says Sally.

“And dry them out after use. Damp, used towels in moist bathrooms encourage microbial growth. For example, dermatophytic fungi, like those that cause athlete’s foot, can live on the towel and cause infections in cut or sensitive skin.”

Experts say towels should be washed at least once a week – more if they smell, obv.

Just spray no

Cancer-causing VOCs – volatile organic compounds – are given off by many detergents and cleaning products, and can also cause irritation of the eyes and throat or headaches.

“Exposure to chemical agents can be as harmful to the respiratory system as smoking 20 cigarettes a day,” says Angelika Davenport, founder of natural cleaning product company Tincture.

While the short-term effects of chemicals on asthma are documented, the long-term impact isn’t yet known.

Lynsey says making your own products is a great alternative.

“Fill a spray bottle with 2tsp soda crystals and 4tsp white wine vinegar, then top up with hot water.”

High and mite-y

Not only does dust look gross, it also carries irritating dust mites that can aggravate your nasal passages and eyes.

Studies have shown that dust mites can put stress on your immune system, and harbours chemicals that can be bad for lungs.

Lynsey recommends dusting once a week with old tumble-dryer sheets – “the cleaning world’s best-kept secret” – to stop it resettling, plus vacuuming often and dusting.

Dirty bed linen is also a dust mite’s paradise, so experts recommend changing your sheets once a week – something only 33 per cent of Brits do.

The bacteria that lives in dirty bed linen has also been linked to acne and eczema.